Anti-piracy law cuts Internet traffic in Sweden

The newly adopted anti-piracy law has significantly cut down Internet use in Sweden. A legislation, which is based on the Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Directive (IPRED), has resulted in a 30% drop in day-to-day traffic. In the two days that the law -- which was designed to give copyright holders and authorities more possibilities to act against illegal file-sharing -- has been in use it seems to have scared off a lot of people.

Both the Swedish anti-piracy office and the Swedish Pirate Party agree that the drop was caused by the law. However, they do disagree whether that's the way the law should affect.

"This is what disturbs me the most — that the industry thrives on scaring the common citizen," told Swedish Pirate Party Chairman Rick Falkvinge to TorrentFreak.

Henrik Pontén from Swedish anti-piracy office said to Svenska Dagbladet that the drop is a good indication that the legislation is a success, "most of the Internet traffic is file-sharing and therefore the is no other reason for the drop than the new IPRED law."

According to Rick Falkvinge the scare effect will last only a week or two. Regardless of the drop, in the last 24 hours almost 400,000 Swedes connected to the Pirate Bay tracker, with no decline.

LOL @ bullying. These guys are breaking the law. They deserved to be bullied. Actually, I think criminals deserve alot worse than just bullying, but thats a different subject.

30% of Swedish net traffic is devoted to breaking the law. Maybe these people are out riding a bike, reading a book or doing something productive with their minds rather than devoting themselves to criminal acts.

I think this a good thing: 1) less criminals and 2) less traffic for people doing legal/important things.

Originally posted by atomicxl: LOL @ bullying. These guys are breaking the law. They deserved to be bullied. Actually, I think criminals deserve alot worse than just bullying, but thats a different subject.

30% of Swedish net traffic is devoted to breaking the law. Maybe these people are out riding a bike, reading a book or doing something productive with their minds rather than devoting themselves to criminal acts.

I think this a good thing: 1) less criminals and 2) less traffic for people doing legal/important things.

The Law, he who sets it in place is the one that controls what you do with your life.

The Law protects criminal's and punishes the good people.

The law is a well fabricated lie for a very lawless world.

whether you realize it or not murders will still have fully automatic weapons. Civilians cannot we are barred from having or even owning one.

The corporations run rapid, Stealing from us. yet we can do nothing to stop it as the law protects them.

when are rights are stripped from us completely. the law will be there ready to say you cant have your rights back.